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Archive for the ‘Christian Life’ Category

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Coming Down From the Mountain

I worked on the team for the Walk to Emmaus #110 in the Shenandoah Valley Walk to Emmaus Community this past weekend. The Upper Room Ministries not only publishes the Upper Room devotional books that many churches order and provide for members and other people, but they have developed other spiritual ministries which include other devotionals, books, and spiritual retreat experiences.

The Walk to Emmaus, is a wonderful ministry tool that often renews people’s faith. Its main goal is to advance the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is difficult to explain because it is an experience that is both personal and communal. The weekend is highly structured but at the same time, it allows people to be themselves before God and one another in a safe, and loving environment.
The description of its purpose from their website:

“The Walk to Emmaus develops Christian disciples and leaders by inspiring, challenging, and equipping active adult church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. It also benefits less active members who are seeking to renew a relationship with God, grow spiritually, or discover firmer foundations for their lives.

Through The Walk to Emmaus, as they seek to become healthy and vital congregations, local churches have both a means of growing disciples and a tool for developing leaders for their disciple-making systems.

The program begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity that is wrapped in prayer and signs of sacrificial service. It continues for the rest of participants’ lives with follow-up groups that, along with the local church’s robust offerings, contribute to participants’ ongoing growth in grace.”


Prayer is the foundation and framing of The Walk to Emmaus. God uses a team of people who have experienced the weekend to continue its work. There are Emmaus communities all over the world. Butch and I attended The Walk to Emmaus in Baton Rouge in 1999 in the Lagniappe Country Walk to Emmaus Community. I have served in both the Shenandoah Valley, and the Southwest Virginia Emmaus communities. One of the most important parts of Emmaus are the “Group Reunion” meetings that participants are encouraged to attend regularly for prayer, encouragement, and accountability.

These “walks” happen in the spring and fall of the year, and there may be a waiting list if we have too many people desiring to attend. I want to invite anyone in my church or any of my friends to consider attending. If you want to know more, I would be happy to sit down and have a conversation about The Walk to Emmaus. God nudges people to accept the invitation to attend The Walk to Emmaus – I invite you to listen to the nudge.

After attending or working on a Walk to Emmaus weekend, we return home needing to process all that we experienced and are inspired to do. This is where I am at today. I am left declaring,

“Your Will, oh God,
Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
Amen and Amen!”

Written

on October 19, 2022

Aside

Re-entry from a short pilgrimage.

The 5-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation in Virginia ended today. We have waited since 2020 for conditions of the pandemic to be right so that the Academy could be held. The theme was: Pilgrimage with the Psalms.

One of our speakers, Rev. Dale Clem spoke about many different pilgrimages that are meaningful to Christians, including his own pilgrimages to some of the places he spoke about. He shared how his personal pilgrimage hiking the Appalachian Trail was part of healing from a tragic event in his family’s life when a tornado hit his wife’s church in northern Alabama on Palm Sunday in 1994 killing his daughter and 19 other members of the congregation while he was on a mission trip in Oklahoma. His pilgrimage of healing can be found in his book: 40 Days in the Wilderness: Reflection and Prayers Along the Appalachian Trail.

Our other speaker, Jerry Webber shared his depth of knowledge of the Psalms. He has 3 published 40-day devotional workbooks. His teaching included writings from many different authors and inspired us to study the Psalms using our imagination and wonder.

The Academy for Spiritual Formation offers both 5-Day and 2-Year Academies and online versions as well to enrich our spiritual lives and help us connect with other pilgrims who are seeking to enrich their faith in community with others. Rhythms of prayer, study, silence and Holy Communion all all part of the Academy’s model. These experiences are for anyone, not just clergy, and can help people seek and find God in ways that churches are not able to offer.

Re-entry back into “normal life” for me is going to take a bit of time. Our days were ordered, beginning with an early prayer service, breakfast, the first presentation by one of our speakers, silent reflection time, a time of sharing our reflections with the community, midday prayer together, lunch, free time to rest or be with God, our second presentation by our other speaker, silent reflection time, sharing our reflections with the community, a Eucharist service (Holy Communion), a meal, small group discussion, an evening prayer service, and then silence until the next day’s early prayer service before breakfast. After 4 days of this rhythm, you may see me stopping for reflection or prayer in the day, walking slower, or noticing the world around me more closely. It was good to slow down, and I feel that I gained some insight through my personal prayer time about how God both affirmed my calling and my efforts in ministry, and challenged me to order my days in a way that makes the most sense for my life at this time.

I pray that anyone who is in a season of seeking a bit more of God will consider setting time apart to pray, talk with others who are seeking God, and feel part of a community of believers who are walking some of the same “trails.” Jesus calls us into community. This is a very good thing.
Feel free to contact me, or ask any questions!

Peace and grace to you today and always!
Pastor Deb

Written

on August 19, 2022